The Winter Solstice takes place in the Northern Hemisphere tomorrow 21 December. It is the day when the sun is at its lowest point and furthest away from the North. It is the so-called shortest day of the year when the time between sunrise and sunset is the least of the year. That also means that the night is the longest night of the year. Many cultures around the world celebrate the day. In Ireland for example, there are prehistoric monuments at Brú na Bóinne (Bend in the Boyne [river])[1] . These monuments were built during the Neolithic Period around 3200 BCE.[2] There are over ninety such monuments in the area.[3] Among these so-called passage tombs are Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth. These mounded structures each have long corridors or passages inside of them. Newgrange has a special feature specifically for the Winter Solstice.
Above the entrance is a precisely positioned ”roof-box.” The roof-box is a small opening above the entrance. According to Knowth.com, “Its purpose is to allow sunlight to penetrate the passage and chamber at sunrise around the Winter Solstice.” As the sun comes up, it enters the roof-box and gradually illuminates the length of the passage. Knowth.com tells the story,
At 8:58am a narrow beam of light penetrates the roof-box and reaches the floor of the chamber, gradually extending to the rear of the passage. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens within the chamber so that the whole room becomes dramatically illuminated. After 17 minutes the sunbeam leaves the chamber and retreats back down the passage.[3]
The burial chamber is at the ”rear of the passage.” So the roof-box, the direction of the passage, and the location of the burial chamber are precise and intentionally placed to support this effect on this day every year. Further purpose for the alignment and a deeper history can be found in at https://www.newgrange.com/winter_solstice.htm among several other sources.
When we visited the Republic of Ireland, we went to Brú na Bóinne. Due to time limitations we did not visit Newgrange. However we were able to visit nearby Knowth. Knowth has its own interesting features including massive, carved kerbstones. Perhaps we can discuss them at another time.
Newgrange, Knowth and all of the Brú na Bóinne monuments are in and around County Meath which is west and north of Dublin.
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View a live stream recording of the Winter Solstice of 21 December 2021
View more photos at Knowth.com
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